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Page 77
"Geoffrey?" Ian asked faintly. Geoffrey admired Owain with all the hero worship a younger boy feels for a kind elder. Ian knew that to Geoffrey he was still a slightly unapproachable god; Owain was on the order of a kindly and helpful saint.
"Geoffrey said that nobody is 'just' an anything. They are all persons, and each must be judged on his own."
"Geoffrey is very wise for his age," Ian remarked approvingly.
Then his attention was drawn to Alinor, who had just given Adam permission to leave the table. She glanced across Ian at her daughter's untouched bread and cheese and watered wine.
"Do you not wish to eat anything, Joanna?" Alinor asked.
"It is my fault," Ian said quickly. "I kept her talking."
"Then eat now," Alinor urged. "Lessons in courtesy are over. If you do not hurry, you will be late for your lessons in cipheringnot that that would grieve you, but it will grieve me."
Actually Joanna rather enjoyed her lessons, which was more than could be said for Adam. He went protesting and groaning that reading and writing were for clerks and he would not be a clerk. Why should he learn? Why should he waste time that would be better spent practicing with his sword, or riding. Joanna, on the other hand, found reading, writing and ciphering much more interesting than spinning, weaving and embroidery. Her mind diverted to the lesson Father Francis would probably give, Joanna bit hungrily into her bread and cheese.
"I will tell Geoffrey that I will not take him," Ian said, turning to Alinor. Then, low-voiced, he explained something of the boy's background and trouble.
"That Isabella," Alinor hissed. "Only she could hurt

 
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